John's story
My journey began in Wales at the age of 19 when I was in my first year of University studying Criminology. I made lots of friends due to the large Irish contingent and had joined the college football team and was settling into student life.
I started well but my situation soon began to deteriorate.
I stopped going to lectures and began to shun other people’s company. I loved football but couldn’t face going to training. I became isolated, and began to hear voices when there were no others around.
I became submersed in what was later diagnosed as schizophrenia.
I then returned home and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment, which was mostly in the form of medication. I did not accept the doctor’s diagnosis at the time.
I couldn’t accept that I was one of those crazy people that the newspapers write about. I can now reflect and admit yes I was ill and yes I should have been in hospital care.
When I was well enough to leave hospital Rethink provided the care and guidance for me to get back to a normal routine. This transformed from just a bedroom in a hostel to an independent flat with support available if I needed it.
However, I have still followed an academic path throughout my illness and am now training to be an accredited mental health counsellor.
My recovery, like many others, has been likened to climbing a flight of stairs, which we all have to do, one step at a time.
I started well but my situation soon began to deteriorate.
I stopped going to lectures and began to shun other people’s company. I loved football but couldn’t face going to training. I became isolated, and began to hear voices when there were no others around.
I became submersed in what was later diagnosed as schizophrenia.
I then returned home and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital for treatment, which was mostly in the form of medication. I did not accept the doctor’s diagnosis at the time.
I couldn’t accept that I was one of those crazy people that the newspapers write about. I can now reflect and admit yes I was ill and yes I should have been in hospital care.
When I was well enough to leave hospital Rethink provided the care and guidance for me to get back to a normal routine. This transformed from just a bedroom in a hostel to an independent flat with support available if I needed it.
However, I have still followed an academic path throughout my illness and am now training to be an accredited mental health counsellor.
My recovery, like many others, has been likened to climbing a flight of stairs, which we all have to do, one step at a time.
